Michael Avenatti Facing Additional Charges For Fraud And Embezzlement

Michael Avenatti’s legal troubles are only growing thanks to a new wave of indictments coming down on the former Los Angeles lawyer.

On Thursday, a federal grand jury indicted Avenatti on 36 counts of fraud, perjury, failure to pay taxes, embezzlement, and other financial crimes. The latest wave of indictments is a result of allegations Avenatti stole millions of dollars from five clients and covered it up through shell companies and bank accounts.

One of Avenatti’s clients covered under the indictment is Geoffrey Ernest Johnson, a mentally ill paraplegic man. Johnson had won $4 million dollars in a settlement as a result of a lawsuit with Los Angeles County, and Avenatti was his lawyer. The money was wired to Avenatti who, according to the indictment, had hidden the money from Johnson since January 2015.

Avenatti allegedly pulled a similar move with another client in 2017 when he hid $2.5 million of a $2.75 million settlement. The money reportedly went towards the purchase of a private jet for Passport 420, LLC, a company which prosecutors say Avenatti effectively owned.

In total, if Avenatti were convicted on all counts, he could face a maximum sentence of 335 years in prison for the charges. These new charges add to the federal charges Avenatti is facing in New York for extortion. These charges would add another 47 years for allegedly trying to extort Nike for over $20 million.

“I am entitled to a FULL presumption of innocence and am confident that justice will be done once ALL of the facts are known,” Avenatti tweeted Thursday.

He is currently out on a $300,000 bond and is awaiting court dates.